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Synopsis of Epiphany of the Lord(Jan 3) (Mt 2:1-12) L/16
Introduction: The Greek word Epiphany (επιφάνεια), means appearance or manifestation. Multiple revelations of Jesus as God are celebrated in the Feast of the Epiphany.First, the angels revealed Jesus to the shepherds. In the Western Church, the Feast of the Epiphany celebrates Jesus’ first appearance to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, while in the Eastern Church, the feast isthe commemoration of the Baptism of Christ where the Father and the Holy Spirit gave combined testimony to Jesus’ identity as Son of God.Later, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesusrevealed himself as the promised Messiah, and at Cana he revealed his Divinity by transforming water into wine.
Scripture lessons:Today’s Gospelteaches ushow Christ enriches those who bring him their hearts. The adoration of the Magi fulfills the oracle of Isaiah (first reading), prophesying that the nations of the world will travel to the Holy City following a brilliant light and will bring gold and incense to contribute to the worship of God. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 72), includes a verse about kings coming from foreign lands to pay homage to a just king in Israel. Paul's letter to the Church of Ephesus (today’s second reading), expresses God’s secret plan in clear terms: "the Gentiles are…copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel."Today’s Gospel reminds us that if God permitted the Magi – foreigners and pagans – to recognize and give Jesus proper respect as the King of Jews, we should know that there is nothing in our sinful lives that would keep God from bringing us to Jesus. There were three groups of people who reacted to the Epiphany of Christ’s birth. The first group headed by King Herod tried to eliminate him, the second group, priests and scribes, ignored him and the third group, represented by the shepherds and the Magi, came to adore him.
Life Messages: (1) Let usmake sure that we belong to the third group:a) byworshiping Jesus at Mass with the gold of our love, the myrrh of our humility and the frankincense of our adoration; b)by giving a new direction to our lives (choosing, as the Magichose another routeto return to their homes, a better way of life, abstaining fromproud andimpure thoughts, evil habits and selfish behavior);c)by becoming stars leading others to Jesus, as the star led the Magi to Jesus (removing the darkness of the evil around us and radiating Jesus’love through selfless service, unconditional forgiveness and compassionate care). (2) Like the Magi, let us offer Jesus our gifts on this feast of the Epiphany: (a) our gift of friendship with God in the form of wholehearted love and devotion;(b)our gift of friendship with others by leading them to Jesus through our exemplary lives of Christian charity in action;(c)our gift of reconciliation with God by daily asking His pardon and forgiveness for our sins and giving unconditional forgiveness to our offenders; and(d)our gift of peace byseeking God’s peace in our own lives through prayer, the Sacramental life and daily meditation on the Word of God.
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (Jan 3): Is 60:1-6; Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12
Anecdote:# 1:“Because you never know what’s going to happen next.” A survey was made among school children asking the question why they enjoyed reading Harry Potter novels and watching Harry Potter movies. The most common answer was, “Because you never know what’s going to happen next.” This sense of suspense and surprise prompt us to watch the seven episodes of the Star War movies. The same desire for epiphany with the thrill and suspense awaiting them prompt adults to watch James Bond films and encouraged the great explorers like Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus to make risky and adventurous journeys. It is the same curiosity which led the magi to follow the star of Bethlehem. An element of suspense marked every moment in the journey of the Magi, who never knew what road the Spirit of God was going to take them down next. Today’s readings invite us to have the same curiosity of explorers and movie fans so that we may discover the “epiphany” or manifestation or self- revelation of our God in everyone and every event, everywhere.
#2: History of Epiphany: Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year. In Asia Minor and Egypt, Epiphany was observed as early as the second century. The Festival of the Epiphany fell and still falls on January 6. It was observed as a unitive festival -- both the birth and Baptism of Jesus were celebrated at this time. January 6 was chosen as Epiphany Day because it was the winter solstice, a pagan festival celebrating the birthday of the sun god. In 331 AD the solstice was moved to December 25, but January 6 continued to be observed. Christians substituted Epiphany for the solstice. The emphasis was upon the re-birth of light. In keeping with this time, the First Lesson for Epiphany Day is appropriate: "Arise, shine; for your light has come." The unitive Festival of Epiphany was divided when December 25 was chosen as the birthday of Jesus. The Church in the East continued to celebrate Epiphany in terms of the Baptism of Jesus while the Western church associated Epiphany with the visit of the Magi. For the East the Baptism of Jesus was more vital because of the Gnostic heresy claiming that only at his baptism did Jesus become the Son of God. On the other hand, to associate Epiphany with the Magi is appropriate, for the Magi did not get to Bethlehem until a year after Jesus' birth. By this time the holy family was in a house rather than in a stable. Consequently, the Magi could not have been a part of the manger scene as is popularly portrayed in today's Christmas scenes and plays. The Vatican II lectionary and calendar combine the two by placing the visit of the Magi on Epiphany Day and the Baptism of Jesus on Epiphany 1 (The First Sunday after the Epiphany).
# 3: Adventurers:When pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager made their historic flight in 1986 with their spindly Voyager aircraft, the whole world followed it with excitement. For nine days a sky-watch was kept tracking their first non-stop global flight without refueling. Achievers and risk-takers like Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager have always fascinated us. Marco Polo journeying to India and China, Christopher Columbus coming to America, Admiral Byrd going to the South Pole, our Astronauts flying to the moon: such adventurers have always aroused our admiration and our skepticism. – It was no different at the time of the Magi in today’s Gospel story. To the cynical observer the Magi must have seemed foolish to go following a star. These astrologers had to be a little crazy leaving the security of their homeland to venture forth into a strange country presided over by a madman like Herod. Nevertheless, to the person with the eyes of Faith, the Magi had discovered an immense secret. They found not only the secret of the star but the secret of the whole universe –the secret of God’s incredible love for his people. For the child they found was no ordinary child but the very Son of God become man. (Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds).
Introduction: The Greek word Epiphany (επιφάνεια), which means appearance or manifestationor showing forth, is used to describeJesus’ first appearance to the Gentiles.Originally the word Epiphany referred to the visit of a king to the people of his provinces. "Epiphany" refers toGod’s Self-revelation as well as to the revelation of Jesus as His Son.Epiphany is an older celebration than the feast of Christmas, having originated in the East in the late second century.In Italy and Spain, the gifts traditionally associated with the Christmas season are exchanged today, on the feast of the Epiphany. Among Italians, it is believed that the gifts are brought by the old woman, Befana (from Epiphany), whereas Spanish custom attributes the gifts to the Kings or Magi.The feast commemorates the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the Western Church.In the Eastern Church, the feast alsocommemoratesthe Baptism of Christ.The angels revealed Jesus to the shepherds, and the star revealed him to the Magi, whohad already received hints of Him fromJewish Scriptures.Later, God the Fatherrevealed Jesus' identity to Israel at his Baptismin the Jordan.In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesusrevealed himself as the promised Messiah.Finally Jesus revealed himself as a miracle worker at the wedding of Cana, revealing his divinity. These multiple revelations are all suggested by the Feast of the Epiphany.
Today’s Old Testament reading, Isaiah 60:1-6, is chosen partly because it mentions non-Jews bringing gifts in homage to the God of Israel. Here the Prophet Isaiah, consoling the people in exile, speaks of the restoration of New Jerusalemfrom which the glory of Yahweh becomes visible even to the pagan nations. Thus, the prophet in this passage celebrates the Divine Light emanating from Jerusalem and foresees all the nations acknowledging that Light, enjoying that Light and walking by that Light. As a sign of gratitude for the priceless lessons of Faith offered by Jerusalem, the nations will bring wealth by land and sea, especially gold for the Temple and frankincense for the sacrifice.Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 72) declares that all the kings of the earth will pay homage to and serve the God of Israel and His Messiah. Thus, these two readings express hope for a time when “the people of God” will embrace all nations. As the privileged recipient of a Divine “epiphany”, Saint Paul reveals God’s “secret plan” – that the Gentiles also have a part with the Jews in Divine blessings. Hence, in the second reading, St. Paul affirms the mystery of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Paul explains that this plan includes both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus implemented this Divine plan by extending membership in his Church, making it available to all peoples. Thus, the Jews and the Gentiles have become “coheirs, members of the same Body and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”Hence, there are no second class members of Jesus’ Body, the Church. Paul claims that he was commissioned by Christ to make this mystery known to the world.Today’s Gospelteaches ushow Christ enriches those who bring Him their hearts. Since the Magi came with joy in their hearts tovisit the Christ Child,God allowed them to see wondrous things. At the same time, today’s Gospel hints at different reactions to the news of Jesus’ birth, foreshadowing his passion and death, as well as the risen Jesus’ mandate to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19).
Exegesis: The Magi and the star: The Magi werenot Kings, buta caste of Persian priestswho served Kings using their skills in interpreting dreams and watching movements of stars. The sixth century Italian tradition that there were three Magi, Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior, is based on the fact that three gifts are mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel:gold, frankincense and myrrh.The Magi may actually have been Persian priests or Babylonian astronomers or Nabataean spice-traders. Eventually, however, they were pictured as representatives of different peoples and races. TheOrthodox Church holds that the Magi consisted oftwelve Kings, corresponding in number to the twelve tribes of Israel.Commentaryon the Torah by Jewish rabbis suggested that a star appeared in the skyat the births of Abraham, Isaac and Moses.Likewise,in the Book of Numbers (24: 17), the prophet Balaam speaks of "a star that shall come out of Jacob."Stars were believed to be signs from God,announcing important events.Thus, the brightness of the Light to which kingswere drawnwas made visible inthe star they followed.They were led by God’s power to Christ and brought gifts to him and his family—to Mary and Joseph—as Isaiah and the psalmist foresaw.
The gifts: Gold, frankincense and myrrhmay be thought of as prophesying Jesus’ future, gold representing his kingship as well as divinity, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming. Goldwas a gift forKings, accepting baby Jesus as the king of the Jews.Gold is also a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. Pagan idols were often made from gold and theArk of the Covenantwas overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10-17). The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh. Frankincenseis highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of his willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.Myrrh was used by the High Priest as ananointing oil (Ex. 30:23) Myrrh was used in ancient times for embalming the bodies of the dead before burial.It was a fitting “gift” for Jesus who was born to die.It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Matthew 27:34refers to it as “gall.” Such a drink was given to our Savior when he was about to be crucified, as a stupefying potion (Mark 15:23). Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. The baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate price when He gave his life on the cross for all who would believe in him. Besides, it was used an oriental remedyforintestinal wormsin infants, a useful gift for a new baby.These gifts were not only expensive but portable. “Laden with gold and spices, the journey of the magi evokes those journeys made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the "kings of the earth" (see1 Kings 10:2,25;2 Chronicles 9:24).Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon (seeSong of Songs 3:6,4:6,14)”(Dr.Scot Hahn).Perhaps Joseph sold the giftsto finance the Holy Family’s trip to Egypt and Mary kept myrrh in her medicine chest. The gifts might have been God’s way of providing for the journey that lay ahead.
The triple reactions: The Epiphanycan be looked on as a symbol for our pilgrimage through life to Christ.The feast invites usto see ourselves as images of the Magi, a people on a journey to Christ. Today’s Gospel also tells us the story of the Magi’s encounter with the evil King Herod.This encounter symbolizesthreereactionsto Jesus’ birth:hatred, indifference, and adoration. a) A group of people headed by Herod planned to destroy Jesus.b) Another group, composed of priests and scribes, ignored Jesus.c) The members of a third group -- shepherds and the magi -- adored Jesus and offered themselves to Him.
A) The destructive group: King Herod considered Jesusa potential threat to his kingship. Herod the Great was a cruel and selfish king who murdered his mother-in-law, wife, two brothers-in-law and three children on suspicion that they had plotted against him. Herod, in today’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. Their answer says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise - one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5), the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock” and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth” (see Micah 5:1-3) (Dr. Hann). Later, the scribes and Pharisees plotted to kill Jesusbecause he had criticizedthem and tried to reform some of their practices. Today, many oppose Christ and his Church because of theirselfish motives, evil ways and unjust lives. Children still have Herods to fear. In the United States alone, one and a half million innocent, unborn children are aborted annually.
B) The group that ignored Christ:The scribes, the Pharisees and the Jewish priests knewthat there were nearly 500 prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning the promised Messiah.Theywere able to tell Herod the exact time and place of Jesus’ birth.Theywere in the habit of concluding their reading from the prophets on the Sabbath dayby saying, “We shall now pray for the speedy arrival of the Messiah.”Unfortunately, they were more interested in their own selfish gainsthan in discovering the truth. Hence, theyrefused to go and see the child Jesus -- even though Bethlehem was quite close to Jerusalem.Today, many Christiansremind us ofthis group.They practice their religionfrom selfish motives,such as to gain political power, prestige and recognitionby society.They ignore Jesus' teachings in their private lives.
C) The group that adored Jesus and offered Him gifts:This group was composed ofthe shepherds and the Magi. The shepherds offeredthe onlygifts they had: love, tears of joy, and probably woolen clothes and milk from their sheep.The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, were following the star that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler’s staff over the house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17). The Magi offered gold, in recognition of Jesus as the King of the Jews; frankincense, in acknowledgment that he wasGod, and myrrhas a symbol of his human nature. “Like the Magi, every person has two great “books” which provide the signs to guide this pilgrimage: the book of creation and the book of Sacred Scripture. What is important is that we be attentive, alert, and listen to God Who speaks to us,who always speaks to us.” (Pope Francis)